North Aurora approves expansion of mining operations

NORTH AURORA – Village trustees have given LaFarge North America permission to expand its mining operations.

Trustees on Monday approved an agreement allowing LaFarge to start mining under the east portion of an adjacent ComEd property.

LaFarge is at 105 Conco St., along Route 25, in North Aurora.

In order to maintain an appropriate level of oversight regarding the mining operations, the village will subsequently annex the entire 21.2-acre ComEd property and enter into an annexation agreement with LaFarge North America and Commonwealth Edison, said Mike Toth, the village’s community and economic development director.

Toth noted that mining operations on the LaFarge property date back at least 60 years. Because of previous concerns regarding underground gas lines located underneath the north portion of the ComEd property, LaFarge has decided not to expand to the northern ComEd property, Toth said.

Chesterfield subdivision is located directly to the northeast of the ComEd property. Village trustees approved the agreement with several conditions, including that underground blasting is allowed only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., unless consent is first given by the village; that the mining not create excessive noise; and that mining operations be kept at least 1,000 feet from the closest Chesterfield home.